Taiwan is set to hold a recall vote for 24 Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers accused of being “pro-China” on Saturday, July 26. Chinese state media has launched a fervent campaign with 425 articles and videos supporting the KMT and criticizing Taiwan President Lai Ching-te for engaging in “green dictatorship”. However, the KMT sees this move by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as counterproductive, stating firmly, “This is our own business.”
According to a report from Reuters on July 22, after Lai Ching-te was elected president last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its majority in parliament. Subsequently, the opposition party KMT, with a majority of lawmakers, has continuously passed bills opposed by Lai Ching-te’s government, including cutting significant defense spending aimed at bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
Amid escalating military and diplomatic pressure from the CCP regarding territorial claims, Taiwanese civic groups earlier this year launched a recall campaign, voting on the fate of approximately one-fifth of all lawmakers from the KMT who they view as “pro-China”.
The recall groups have described this as an “anti-Communist” movement, accusing the KMT of betraying Taiwan. Evidence cited includes frequent visits by lawmakers to Beijing, cuts to Taiwan’s defense budget, and causing chaos in the Legislative Yuan.
In response, the KMT has denied these allegations, explaining that the CCP refuses dialogue because Lai Ching-te is a “Taiwan independence advocate.” The KMT believes maintaining contact with the mainland is crucial to negotiate trade agreements for Taiwan’s agricultural exports and is not indicative of being “pro-China”.
The KMT also criticized Lai Ching-te for his alleged “dictatorial” and “green terror” practices. Meanwhile, Beijing has ramped up its propaganda efforts to rally support for the KMT.
According to the Taiwan Information Environment Research Center (IORG), in the first half of 2025, Chinese state media and its affiliated social media accounts have published approximately 425 articles or videos describing the recall movement as “dictatorial” or “green terror” in sync with the KMT’s narrative.
However, the KMT is keen to distance itself from any association with Beijing. KMT spokesperson Yang Chih-yu told Reuters, “Our thoughts are the same as all Taiwanese people. This is our own matter. This is a competition between the DPP and KMT for public opinion and recognition, and has no connection to the mainland.”
– News Flash Production Team